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Meet the Historic Asolo Theather Interns

08/20/14

Brittney BiddleHometown: Monticello, INEducation: DePauw University – Bachelor of Arts in Communication and English Literature

The Ringling: Why did you choose to study Communications?

Brittney: It’s a long story. I always believe that you should do something that you enjoy. And people always asked me as a kid, what do you want to be when you grow up? I would say I just want to have fun. As a result I chose things that I really like in college.

How did you find this internship?

On Ringling.org. I searched for theater internships summer 2014.

What has been your job this summer?

My main jobs have been to make sure that lights and sound are happening at the right time for Sarasota Circus Arts Conservatory Summer Circus Spectacular. And that things are happening as they are supposed to be. If something is going wrong I confer with (fellow intern) Sam (Callanta) on how to fix it.

What has been your favorite experience this summer?

I am really enjoying doing different things with the circus, interacting with the different individuals in the circus. It’s a different part of theater. I have never worked with the circus before. It has been enjoyable to see the differences between the circus and other theater performances.

Have there been any funny moments, bloopers or learning experiences?

My screw-ups are not fun. Sam can attest. Funny moments? The clown will say something funny. His name is Chris Allison but we jokingly call him the clown because that’s what he refers to himself as.

What’s next for you?

I am going over to the Asolo Repertory Theater to be their education and outreach apprentice. So I am here for the year.

Did you have a favorite moment?Petting Scooby! (The celebrity co-performer of Christian and Scooby, who are competing on America’s Got Talent on NBC)

I am not currently in school. I graduated a couple of years ago from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania.

What was the name of it again?

Ursinus. It is like your sinuses except not, and you know that everyone will make a joke about it.

Are you from Pennsylvania?

I am not. My dad was in the United States Marine Corp so we moved around a lot. I was born in Chicago. Raised in California, and moved to Maryland. My family stayed there because we were not going to move again.

How did you find this internship?

I found it on a free website. I was searching for technical theater and backstage work. It worked out because it caters to what I do in my career.

What had you been doing prior to this?

After I graduated I had an internship with a theater company in Bangor, ME. Then I started to work as a flex technician for the theater department of a community college back in Maryland, and I worked a season of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. Then I did an internship with Brute Force Studios in Harrisburg, PA. If you watch “Shipping Wars” you will see a giant robot that we built. It was on an episode that aired in July 2014.

It was exciting because it was a giant robot!

What have you learned during your time at The Ringling?

I think it is a great environment, working at a museum, working at a theater at a museum. It is a different experience than working at a theater that is just a theater or a theater that is a part of a community college. You are a part of a history here because you are a part of a museum that has circus and the show is about circus. It is a more cohesive experience. You can walk out at lunch and see the Circus Museum or the Ca’d’zan. It’s a great environment.

Do you have any funny stories or interesting experiences?

Bailey talks a lot. That is a running joke backstage, but it is great because she is the ringmaster, so she has to talk to people. The best thing about working with the circus is getting to know the people. It’s great to walk back there and see Pedro, Chris Allison and the stage hand Mark sitting around between shows playing cards.

What’s next for you?

I’m going back to Maryland to be a stage tech. Then it is back to job hunting and looking for my next contract.